From Yahoo...
Quote:
SHE'S COMING OUT: So this is how it's done on The O.C. when the ratings start to dip: Marissa comes out as a lesbian! Series creator Josh Schwartz is confirming rumors that Mischa Barton's lovelorn alter ego will fall for another girl in early '05. "Marissa is at a point in her life where she's trying to find herself and her true identity," Schwartz tells Out.com. "There's another character who she really connects with. It's a girl, which is not something Marissa may have anticipated. But she's willing and game to explore and experiment with that." Schwartz denies that the same-sex plot is just a stunt to boost the show's lagging Nielsens (last Thursday's episode hit a series-low 6.5 million viewers). "We cooked it up well before the show ever premiered this year," he says. "We're constantly looking at evolving and growing these characters. And challenging them. They're at that age where they're open to it. It was either that or Oliver's return." There he goes using that dreaded O-word again.
And the interview from Out.com...
Quote:
The OC’s Queer Twist
In this Out.com exclusive, The OC creator, Josh Schwartz, reveals who is coming out on his sizzling show—and why.
by Jeffrey Epstein
On the Fox drama The OC, Marissa (Mischa Barton) has been through the wringer while looking for Mr. Right: Sexy–but–snobby Luke, brooding Ryan, psychopath Oliver, and gardener D.J. But maybe it’s not Mr. Right she’s looking for. While we’ve been asked not to reveal the “who,” OC creator Josh Schwartz is going on the record to discuss what happens when Marissa—in an episode arc that begins in January—meets Lady Love.
Why was now the right time to do a gay-themed story?
Marissa is at a point in her life where she’s trying to find herself and her true identity. There’s another character who she really connects with. It’s a girl, which is not something Marissa may have anticipated. But she’s willing and game to explore and experiment with that.
Was it your idea?
We were looking to find someone for Marissa to connect with after DJ. Everything we came up with sounded similar to what we’d done. I pitched this idea and thought it would be interesting and show a different side of her.
Traditionally gay storylines on teen shows have dealt with male sexuality—what made you want to do a woman’s story? Why not have Seth explore? He’s been through it all with Summer.
There’s enough people claiming there’s a homosexual subtext between Seth and Ryan, so why make it the text? [Laughs] Seth is so tied to the Summer storyline. He wasn’t really available. Marissa has been trying to find herself and trying different relationships. Many of them are designed to piss her mom off. She seemed willing to go somewhere she never thought she’d go before.
So it’s not to piss off mom?
She believes this is real. She takes it very slowly and very cautiously. When her mom finds out, it’s not done to be explosive. The DJ thing was kind of a bust. She was bored over the summer and she wanted to piss off her mother. It wasn’t resonant and earth-shattering but this relationship is.
Given how Luke’s father coming out was received on the show, will the residents of Orange County respond any better to Marissa?
It’s my experience that the fluidity of sexuality with younger people is more accepted. The other story was tied in with Luke’s dad. He had a family. He’d been living a lie. He had an affair in his marriage. So there were a lot of different elements. With Marissa, no one’s getting hurt in the process.
Obviously you can’t give everything away, but people will wonder if this relationship can sustain. Especially when there is a large fan base that wants to see Ryan and Marissa back together
Hopefully we’ll be on a long, long time and everyone will get what they want.
Did you discuss it with Mischa?
We talked about it. She’s game. She had a storyline like this on Once and Again. Marissa loves whatever you throw at her. She’s game. If she’s OD-ing in Tijuana, she’s up for it. Exploring new parts of her sexuality—she’s up for it. But she wanted to make sure it came from a place of emotion.
A lot of times now when people hear about a lesbian relationship and the Fox network, they remember the Ally McBeal stunt several years ago, which was done to be a real ratings-getter.
I think the initial reaction is, “This is done to boost ratings.” I wasn’t familiar that there was an Ally McBeal thing. We cooked it up well before the show ever premiered this year. We’re constantly looking at evolving and growing these characters. And challenging them. They’re at that age where they’re open to it. It was either that or Oliver’s return.
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at: 12/8/04 10:10 pm
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I'm officially done with my exploration of the O.C. I don't want to be around for to see what's coming next. I just wanna keep the first few eps, wherein Alex and Marissa were treated respectfully and realistically, in my mind for remembrance. I don't want those memories tainted with the crap that's coming.
